HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) are the experts in UK higher education data and analysis. We have been collecting student information since the 1994/95 academic year.

Student data is primarily taken from the HESA Student record, which universities, colleges and other higher education providers return to HESA on an annual basis. The Student record collects a wide range of information, including data about students' personal characteristics, courses and modules of study, and qualifications achieved. Data on students pursuing teacher training qualifications is taken from the Initial Teacher Training record, while data on students studying wholly overseas is taken from the Aggregate offshore record.

We provide data and analysis on students to a wide variety of customers, including:

Our data is used to regulate the sector, inform policy making, advance understanding of social and economic trends, support student decision making, and enhance public understanding of - and confidence in - the higher education sector.

Rounding and suppression strategy

We implement a rounding and suppression strategy in published and released tabulations designed to prevent the disclosure of personal information about any individual. This strategy involves rounding all numbers to the nearest multiple of 5 and suppressing percentages and averages based on small populations.